Former Member Gives $56K in Leftover Funds to His Family’s Organizations

A former member of Congress has donated some of his leftover campaign funds to his own charitable organization and some to his son’s state campaign committee.

At the end of June 2013, the campaign committee of former Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Ill., who did not seek re-election in 2012, had $1,420,932 cash on hand. During the third quarter the committee reported it gave $35,000 on 8/16 to the Cong. Jerry Costello NFP Charitable Corp. in Belleville, Illinois. The committee had previously given the organization $5,000 in 2012.

The committee also sent $20,000 on 9/11 to his son’s campaign state campaign fund, Friends of Jerry Costello II. In 2011-2012, the committee gave $48,000 to his son’s campaign. ‘

In the third quarter of 2013, the committee also gave $1,500 to the Southwestern Illinois College Foundation. Costello’s wife, Georgia Cockrum, is president of Southwestern Illinois College. From 2005 to 2011, the campaign committee reported it paid the Southwestern Illinois College Foundation $11,300 for “public relations.”

The committee also donated $2,500 to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and $500 to the Ron Ortyl Memorial.

During the third quarter the committee also contributed $109,750 to 22 political party and campaign committees of Democratic candidates. This included $25,000 to the Democratic Party of Illinois; $25,000 to Taxpayers for Quinn; $10,000 to Friends of Mike Madigan; among others.

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